If an online deal for a smartphone seems too good to be true — it might be. Some consumers are being duped into buying fake iPhones.

It's a national trend that also is being seen in Tallahassee. Fake iPhones may be sold in online forums like Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, Letgo and other sites, said Matt Ham, owner and CEO of Computer Repair Doctor.

"The “Buy/Sell/Trade” aspect of repair shops is growing, but lots of people prefer to buy and/or sell phones to each other to try to get a better deal. Unfortunately, that leads to scams like the fake iPhones," he said.

A cursory look may find what appears to be a well-made device but a closer inspection, especially of its software, will reveal flaws, such as incompatible iOS software.

In the past, Ham's staff might discover a couple of fake phones within a couple of months, but that has increased.

“It’s something that’s picked up in recent months," Ham said. "I wouldn’t call it an epidemic, but it’s definitely on the rise."

Some signs of a fake phone include dead space around the home screen, dull resolution and the inability to find standard apps on Apple products.

Selling fake Apple products can be a lucrative criminal enterprise. For example, The Verge, a technology news and media network operated by Vox Media, reported 43-year-old Chinese National Jianhua “Jeff” Li pleaded guilty last month for taking part in a counterfeiting scheme to smuggle fake iPhones and iPads.

Officials said Li and others helped smuggle more than 40,000 products and accessories from China, which raked in $1.1 million from U.S. customers.

—Contact TaMaryn Waters at tlwaters@tallahassee.com or follow @TaMarynWaters on Twitter.